The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 98

Adelaide sat on the sofa next to the hospital bed, her face tight with worry as she watched the orthopedic surgeon put a new cast on Franco’s leg.

When the doctor and nurse finally left, it was just the two of them.

“You got hurt saving Petty. I won’t say anything about that. It’s what you should do as her husband.”

Franco twirled an unlit cigarette between his fingers. “It’s just a scratch. Didn’t think it was serious enough for you to show up.”

His casual attitude made Adelaide’s temper flare.

“If I hadn’t come, was I supposed to just watch you and Petty get divorced?”

Franco’s hand stilled. He stared at his lap for a moment, eyes shadowed, then let out a low laugh.

“We’re not getting divorced.”

“She already moved out of Misty Vale. Were you planning to keep that from me forever?” Adelaide pointed at him, her voice sharp. “You know how much Petty loves you. Her leaving means she’s giving up. Something awful must have happened to push her that far. What did you do to her?”

Adelaide kept going, but Franco didn’t react at all. Only when she hit a nerve did his expression finally change.

“I told you to stay out of this. Knowing more won’t help you.”

Some things, he thought, she didn’t need to know.

Adelaide jumped to her feet. “Why can’t I get involved? Of course I will. This is all because you don’t treat her right. Your parents died young, you grew up with me, do you think I don’t know your temper? Three years ago, you agreed to marry her. Everyone said it was just to get a solid footing in The White Group, but I know better. No one can force you to do anything you don’t want. I know you care about Petty…”

“I don’t love her.” Franco cut her off, his voice low and cold, his eyes so dark it was almost frightening.

Adelaide had never seen him look like that before.

It was as if he was surrounded by a darkness that could swallow everything.

She froze, a chill running straight through her.

Franco forced a thin smile, his words colder than ever. “I could never love her.”

***

A few minutes later, Adelaide went to see Petty.

When she stepped out of the room, she saw Laura waiting in her electric wheelchair. “Grandma.”

***

Late that night, Jay came into the hospital room and handed Franco a sealed bag.

Franco leaned back against the headboard and opened it. Inside were the shredded pieces of a divorce agreement.

No one but him, Jay, and Petty knew the code to his study, and he never let the housekeeper in there.

After Petty tore up the agreement, the mess stayed put. The staff couldn’t clean inside, so the pieces were left untouched.

Franco’s finger brushed over a fragment with Petty’s signature.

She really had signed it.

And she really hadn’t looked at what was inside.

If she had, she would have known whose divorce agreement it was.

Franco lit a cigarette, handed the bag to Jay, and said quietly, “Burn it.”